Mitchell River (Western Australia)

Mitchell River
Mouth	Walmsley Bay
Basin countries	Australia
Length	117 kilometres (73 mi) [1]
Source elevation	441 metres (1,447 ft) [2]
Mouth elevation	sea level
Basin area	2,955 square kilometres (1,141 sq mi)[3]

Mitchell River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The river rises north east of Sharp Hill and flows in a north westerly direction until discharging into the Indian Ocean via Walmsley Bay near Port Warrender.

The best known feature of the river is Mitchell Falls located within the Mitchell River National Park, a three tiered series of drops with a combined height of nearly 80 metres.

The river was named after Sir James Mitchell the Premier of Western Australia by surveyor W.R. Eastman in 1921.

Nine species of freshwater fish are known to inhabit the waters of the Mitchell River.

There is another Mitchell River located in Western Australia that is a tributary of the Hay River in the south of the state. Coordinates: 14°43′15″S 125°38′21″E / 14.72083°S 125.63917°E / -14.72083; 125.63917

References

1. ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of river names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+river+names. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
2. ^ "Bonzle Digital Atlas - Map of Mitchell River, WA". 2008. http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&cmd=sp&zix=r&p=213422&st=&s=Mitchell%20River&c=1&x=117%2E39196&y=%2D34%2E84546&w=23232. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
3. ^ "The Kimberley River Environment". 2008. http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/WaterQuality/Publications/WaterNotes/Content/WaterNotes_36.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12.